Restricted Mobility of Cell Surface Proteins in the Polar Regions of Escherichia coli

The polar regions of the Escherichia coli murein sacculus are metabolically inert and stable in time. Because the sacculus and the outer membrane are tightly associated, we investigated whether polar inert murein could restrict the mobility of other cell envelope elements. Cells were covalently labeled with a fluorescent reagent, chased in dye-free medium, and observed by microscopy. Fluorescent material was more efficiently retained at the cell poles than at any other location. The boundary between high and low fluorescence intensity areas was rather sharp. Labeled material consisted mostly of cell envelope proteins, among them the free and murein-bound forms of Braun's lipoprotein. Our results indicate that the mobility of at least some cell envelope proteins is restrained at regions in correspondence with underlying areas of inert murein.     

Changes in Cell Surface Anionogenic Groups Induced by Propranolol in Herpetomonas muscarum muscarum

The effects of propranolol (10⁻³ mM) on the surface anionic groups of Herpetomonas muscarum muscarum were analysed by cell electrophoresis, by ultrastructural cytochemistry and by identification of sialic acids using paper chromatography. Differentiation of H. muscarum muscarum induced by propranolol treatment caused a significant increase in the net negative surface charge. Binding of cationized ferritin (CF) and colloidal iron hydroxide particles was observed at the cell surface of both untreated and propranolol-treated cells. In cells incubated in the presence of the drug the CF particles were distributed in all membrane regions. However, there were small areas where the particles were absent. In H. muscarum muscarum exposed to propranolol the density of residues of sialic acid per cell was higher, and the agglutinating activity with Sendai virus was more intense. However, the pattern of sialic acid, characterized by the presence of N-acetylneuraminic acid derivative, was not modified upon cell interaction with the drug. Treatment of both control and propranolol-treated protozoa with neuraminidase significantly reduced the surface charge. These findings suggest that sialic acid residues are the major anionogenic groups exposed on the surface of H. muscarum muscarum .     

Murine Neuroblastoma Cells Express Ganglioside Binding Sites on Their Cell Surface

The ability of S20Y cholinergic, and N115 adrenergic, murine neuroblastoma cells to adhere to immobilized gangliosides was studied. Viable S20Y cells adhered more strongly to GM1-coated plastic wells than to those coated with GM2, GD1a, or GT1b. The oligosaccharide portion of GM1 inhibited adherence of S20Y cells to GM1-coated wells, indicating that the carbohydrate moiety of GM1 bore the recognition site. Analysis of S20Y cell adherence to wells coated with derivatives of GM1 indicated that the cells did not adhere to asialo-GM1 and adherence to the methyl ester or de-N-acetyl derivatives was significantly reduced. Expression of the GM1 binding sites by S20Y cells appears to be density dependent; cells harvested at the confluent stage of growth were more adherent than those harvested at the preconfluent stage. Trypsin treatment of the S20Y and N115 cells resulted in a loss of binding to GM1-coated wells, suggesting that the cell surface GM1 binding site is a protein. In contrast, N115 cells showed no significant difference in their adherence to wells coated with GM1, GD1a, GT1b, Gal-Cer, asialo-GM1, or the methyl ester of GM1 when assayed under the same conditions as those imposed on the S20Y cells. The N115 cells did show a reduction in adherence to GM2-coated wells, suggesting that they recognized the terminal galactosyl moiety.     

Screening for Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Modified Cell Wall Proteins in Pichia pastoris and Their Recombinant Expression on the Cell Surface

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glycoproteins have various intrinsic functions in yeasts and different uses in vitro. In the present study, the genome of Pichia pastoris GS115 was screened for potential GPI-modified cell wall proteins. Fifty putative GPI-anchored proteins were selected on the basis of (i) the presence of a C-terminal GPI attachment signal sequence, (ii) the presence of an N-terminal signal sequence for secretion, and (iii) the absence of transmembrane domains in mature protein. The predicted GPI-anchored proteins were fused to an alpha-factor secretion signal as a substitute for their own N-terminal signal peptides and tagged with the chimeric reporters FLAG tag and mature Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB). The expression of fusion proteins on the cell surface of P. pastoris GS115 was determined by whole-cell flow cytometry and immunoblotting analysis of the cell wall extracts obtained by β-1,3-glucanase digestion. CALB displayed on the cell surface of P. pastoris GS115 with the predicted GPI-anchored proteins was examined on the basis of potential hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl butyrate. Finally, 13 proteins were confirmed to be GPI-modified cell wall proteins in P. pastoris GS115, which can be used to display heterologous proteins on the yeast cell surface.     

Internalization of G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Single Olfactory Receptor Neurons

Abstract : Desensitization of many G protein-coupled receptors after ligand binding generally involves phosphorylation of the receptors and internalization of the ligandbound, phosphorylated receptors by a clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway. Olfactory receptor neurons from the channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ) express the G protein-coupled odorant receptors and metabotropic glutamate receptors. To determine whether a clathrin-dependent receptor internalization pathway exists in olfactory receptor neurons, western blotting and immunocytochemistry were used to identify and localize clathrin and dynamin in isolated olfactory neurons. Clathrin and dynamin immunoreactivity was found in the cell bodies, dendrites, and dendritic knobs of the neurons. Using the activity-dependent fluorescent dye FM1-43 to monitor receptor internalization, we show that single olfactory neurons stimulated with the odorant amino acid l -glumate internalized the dye. Odorant-stimulated neurons showed a consistent pattern of internalized FM1-43 fluorescence localized in the cell bodies and dendritic knobs. Odorant-stimulated internalization was unaffected by the caveolae activator okadaic acid and was significantly decreased by a metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist, suggesting that a functional, clathrindependent, receptor-mediated internalization pathway exists in olfactory receptor neurons.     

LACHESIS Restricts Gametic Cell Fate in the Female Gametophyte of Arabidopsis

In flowering plants, the egg and sperm cells form within haploid gametophytes. The female gametophyte of Arabidopsis consists of two gametic cells, the egg cell and the central cell, which are flanked by five accessory cells. Both gametic and accessory cells are vital for fertilization; however, the mechanisms that underlie the formation of accessory versus gametic cell fate are unknown. In a screen for regulators of egg cell fate, we isolated the lachesis (lis) mutant which forms supernumerary egg cells. In lis mutants, accessory cells differentiate gametic cell fate, indicating that LIS is involved in a mechanism that prevents accessory cells from adopting gametic cell fate. The temporal and spatial pattern of LIS expression suggests that this mechanism is generated in gametic cells. LIS is homologous to the yeast splicing factor PRP4, indicating that components of the splice apparatus participate in cell fate decisions.     

响应面法优化木薯淀粉发酵生产单细胞油脂工艺

采用响应面分析法对发酵性丝孢酵母菌株以木薯淀粉水解液为原料合成微生物油脂的培养条件进行优化。首先利用Plackett-Burman试验设计确定影响油脂产量的主要因素,在此基础上再利用Box-Behnken试验设计及响应面分析法对其进行条件优化。结果表明,发酵温度、C/N、pH对油脂产量具有显著影响,产油脂的最佳发酵条件为:发酵温度28.78°C、C/N 126.18、pH 6.69,油脂产量达到14.88g/L,比优化前提高了28.6%。同时,气相色谱分析表明,微生物油脂脂肪酸组成成分主要包括棕榈酸、硬脂酸、油酸、亚油酸酯等,是优良的生物柴油制备原料。     

Surface Proteins of Gram-Positive Bacteria and Mechanisms of Their Targeting to the Cell Wall Envelope

The cell wall envelope of gram-positive bacteria is a macromolecular, exoskeletal organelle that is assembled and turned over at designated sites. The cell wall also functions as a surface organelle that allows gram-positive pathogens to interact with their environment, in particular the tissues of the infected host. All of these functions require that surface proteins and enzymes be properly targeted to the cell wall envelope. Two basic mechanisms, cell wall sorting and targeting, have been identified. Cell well sorting is the covalent attachment of surface proteins to the peptidoglycan via a C-terminal sorting signal that contains a consensus LPXTG sequence. More than 100 proteins that possess cell wall-sorting signals, including the M proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes, protein A of Staphylococcus aureus, and several internalins of Listeria monocytogenes, have been identified. Cell wall targeting involves the noncovalent attachment of proteins to the cell surface via specialized binding domains. Several of these wall-binding domains appear to interact with secondary wall polymers that are associated with the peptidoglycan, for example teichoic acids and polysaccharides. Proteins that are targeted to the cell surface include muralytic enzymes such as autolysins, lysostaphin, and phage lytic enzymes. Other examples for targeted proteins are the surface S-layer proteins of bacilli and clostridia, as well as virulence factors required for the pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes (internalin B) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (PspA) infections. In this review we describe the mechanisms for both sorting and targeting of proteins to the envelope of gram-positive bacteria and review the functions of known surface proteins.     

钙调蛋白结合蛋白及其磷酸化对癌细胞迁移能力的影响研究

轻链钙调蛋白结合蛋白(light-chain caldesmon,l-CaD)是一种肌动蛋白结合蛋白,它通过与肌动蛋白结合而稳定胞内微丝结构,在磷酸化作用下则能从微丝上脱离.在众多非转移性癌细胞以及永生化的正常细胞系中,l-CaD的表达量很低甚至没有,但在高迁移活性的转移性癌细胞中,l-CaD表达量显著上升,因此l-CaD可能是维持转移性癌细胞高迁移能力的重要因素.为了探索l-CaD如何调节转移性癌细胞迁移活性及其所处地位,以人源转移性乳腺癌细胞MDAMB-231作为载体,一方面,在胞内高表达外源野生型l-CaD及其磷酸化突变株,干扰胞内l-CaD的磷酸化进程,从而考察l-CaD磷酸化对细胞迁移的调节,另一方面,利用siRNA技术,抑制l-CaD在MDAMB-231细胞内的表达量,检测l-CaD对转移性癌细胞迁移活性的总体影响.通过细胞骨架荧光染色、细胞迁移小室、单细胞层次上的牵张力测定以及细胞基底脱黏附能力测定,结果显示:a.阻断MDAMB-231胞内l-CaD的磷酸化进程将显著抑制细胞的迁移能力,细胞骨架调整受阻,基底牵张力增加,细胞基底脱附能力下降;b.l-CaD表达抑制的MDAMB-231细胞失去了完...     

SadA-Expressing Staphylococci in the Human Gut Show Increased Cell Adherence and Internalization

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用抗细胞表面分子单链抗体筛选和鉴别其相互作用肽

展示于噬茵体表面的肽库适于用抗体筛选其特异性结合表达肽。scFv-C193是一个抗KGla细胞表面分子的单链抗体,其抗原仍不清楚,为了筛选并鉴定其识别分子,用8cFv-C193筛选了1个展示于T7噬茵体表面的人胎肝cDNA片段库。经4轮生物吸附后分离单个阳性噬斑,并对其表达产物做电泳分析及斑点杂交。结果鉴别出1个scFv-C193结合肽,scFv-C193+克隆噬菌体DNA插入片段的PCR扩增和序列分析结果表明它是1个43bpDNA片段表达产物。BLAST分析EST人类基因数据库,发现它97％相同于CD34₊造血干/祖细胞mRNA的1-43bp,提示scFv-C193识别片段存在于人类造血干／祖细胞基因中,单克隆单链抗体scFv-C193可能用于研究这些人类基因的性质。     

Filamin A Promotes Dynamin-dependent Internalization of Hyperpolarization-activated Cyclic Nucleotide-gated Type 1 (HCN1) Channels and Restricts Ih in Hippocampal Neurons

The actin-binding protein filamin A (FLNa) regulates neuronal migration during development, yet its roles in the mature brain remain largely obscure. Here, we probed the effects of FLNa on the regulation of ion channels that influence neuronal properties. We focused on the HCN1 channels that conduct I_h, a hyperpolarization-activated current crucial for shaping intrinsic neuronal properties. Whereas regulation of HCN1 channels by FLNa has been observed in melanoma cell lines, its physiological relevance to neuronal function and the underlying cellular pathways that govern this regulation remain unknown. Using a combination of mutational, pharmacological, and imaging approaches, we find here that FLNa facilitates a selective and reversible dynamin-dependent internalization of HCN1 channels in HEK293 cells. This internalization is accompanied by a redistribution of HCN1 channels on the cell surface, by accumulation of the channels in endosomal compartments, and by reduced I_h density. In hippocampal neurons, expression of a truncated dominant-negative FLNa enhances the expression of native HCN1. Furthermore, acute abrogation of HCN1-FLNa interaction in neurons, with the use of decoy peptides that mimic the FLNa-binding domain of HCN1, abolishes the punctate distribution of HCN1 channels in neuronal cell bodies, augments endogenous I_h, and enhances the rebound-response (“voltage-sag”) of the neuronal membrane to transient hyperpolarizing events. Together, these results support a major function of FLNa in modulating ion channel abundance and membrane trafficking in neurons, thereby shaping their biophysical properties and function.     

干扰素膜蛋白Tet-on系统稳定细胞系的建立及对CA16病毒的抑制作用

通过Tet-on调控系统,构建受多西环素诱导表达干扰素诱导的跨膜蛋白(interferon-induced transmembrane proteins 1/2/3,IFITM1/2/3)基因的HeLa细胞系,并初步探索了IFITM蛋白对柯萨奇病毒A16(CA16)的抑制作用.首先将调控质粒pTet-on转染进入HeLa细胞,通过G418筛选出阳性克隆细胞系,在此细胞系基础上共同转染反应质粒pTRE2-IFITM1/2/3和伴侣质粒pTK-Hyg,通过潮霉素筛选出单克隆细胞系,加入多西环素后利用Western印迹筛选出可诱导表达IFITM1/2/3蛋白的单克隆细胞系.使用实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测发现,多西环素诱导表达的IFITM蛋白对不同感染复数(multiplicity of infection,MOI)的CA16具有明显的抑制作用,其中IFITM 3对CA16的抑制效果最为明显.Tet调控IFITM1/2/3基因表达HeLa细胞系的成功建立,为进一步研究IFITM基因的功能及其抗病毒机理提供了一个理想的细胞模型.     

Cell Density Modulates Receptor-Mediated Internalization of Nerve Growth Factor in Pheochromocytoma Cells

Abstract

Binding and fate of the nerve growth factor (NGF) in pheochromocytom a cells (clone PC12) have been measured with the use of iodine-labeled ligand and with ¹²⁵I-NGF antibodies. With such double approach it is possible to distinguish between surface bound and total NGF bound to PC12 cells. It is found that NGF-receptor complexes undergo down-regulation. This process is noticeable at low but not at high cell densities, and only in PC12 cells never exposed to NGF. Previous incubation with growth factor leads to the disappearance of down-regulation of NGF-receptor complexes. Assuming that this process is an indirect measure of NGF-receptor internalization, it is concluded that it is modulated by the cell density or by previous exposure to the factor. These findings are postulated to be relevant to the mechanism of action of NGF and to its multiple effects on target cells.     

HMGB1对小鼠系膜细胞细胞周期及细胞周期相关蛋白表达的影响

该实验以小鼠系膜细胞MMC为研究对象,以重组HMGB1为刺激物,通过检测细胞周期的变化及细胞PCNA、CyclinD1、CDK4和p16的表达水平,初步探讨HMGB1对系膜细胞的细胞周期及其相关调控因子的影响。选取小鼠系膜细胞MMC为研究对象,随机分为对照组及0.05mg/LHMGB1刺激组,经流式细胞术检测发现HMGB1能够上调小鼠系膜细胞中S期细胞所占比例;免疫细胞化学检测显示,PCNA蛋白在小鼠系膜细胞中的表达上调;通过RT-PCR技术及Western blot技术检测到小鼠系膜细胞中CyclinD1 mRNA和蛋白以及CDK4蛋白的高表达情况,而p16蛋白的表达呈时间依赖性降低。由此可见,HMGB1可能是通过上调CyclinD1/CDK4的表达,并下调p16的表达,促进细胞从G_0/G_1期进入S期,介导了小鼠系膜细胞的异常增殖,可能是HMGB1参与狼疮性肾炎发病的可能机制之一。     

单细胞技术在干细胞研究中的应用

干细胞是具有自我更新和分化潜能的异质性细胞群体。基于细胞群体水平的干细胞研究不能满足深入认识干细胞生物学本质及实际应用的需要。近年来,单细胞相关技术不断发展和成熟,并正在干细胞基础研究及其相关领域中获得迅速应用。该文以造血干细胞为主要例举,就实验研究中常用的单细胞分离、单细胞克隆分析、单细胞移植、单细胞实时定量PCR及单细胞测序等技术原理及其应用进行综述。